Mycobacterium leprae

Bacteria and Humans

Bacteria are some of the most
important organisms on earth for several reasons. Their
interactions with humans are extremely significant. Most people
don't realize how important bacteria are to our world. Here are
a few important features bacteria can do, and how they relate to
you.

Bioremediation

Bacteria are special organisms which
are able to degrade tons of organic materials that many other
organisms are incapable of. Because of this, they are huge waste
processors. One of the most important things bacteria can do is
use bioremediation. Bioremediation is a process that uses
organisms such as bacteria, plants, fungi, and more, to use
their enzymes to return nature and the environment to its
original state before contaminants and other toxins. Bacteria can
decompose the toxins and rid the environment of the harmful
waste. Bacteria are most commonly known for their ability to
remediate soil contaminants, one of the most specific being
chlorinated hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons are often found in
petroleum, which is a main component in oil spills. You may have
heard of the Exxon Valdez oil spill
on the beaches of Prince William Sound a few years ago. Bacteria
were used to help remediate the environment. Without the help of
these organisms, our environment would truly suffer, and it
would be much more difficult to get rid of these contaminants.

Nitrogen fixation is a process where
nitrogen is taken from its natural form in the atmosphere and
converted into nitrogen compounds, (ammonia.) Bacteria form
symbiotic relationships (go here
to find out what this means) with plants on the nodules of their
roots. Called rhizobia, these bacteria produce nitrogen
compounds which help the plant grow. When the plant dies, the
nitrogen is released into the atmosphere and it helps other
plants grow, as well as fertilize the soil. So why is this
important? Well, the atmosphere is made of about 78% nitrogen,
and it is essential for any organisms to live on earth. Nitrogen
is important for all plants in their chlorophyll molecules,
which are extremely important for photosynthesis. We need
organisms to fixate this nitrogen gas into forms which can be
used by living organisms, in order for the world to work the way
it does. As you can see in the cycle of nitrogen below,
organisms fix nitrogen into usable compounds and it's taken up
by these organisms. In turn, these organisms either die or give
off nitrogen which cannot be used. This nitrogen is fixated
again, and the cycle continues to go around and around. So if it
wasn't for many of the bacteria which are responsible for
nitrogen fixation, humans would not even be here!

Disease

As listed above, bacteria can be very
helpful organisms. However, there is always a down side. Many
bacteria are pathogens, or "disease causing." Bacteria are known
to cause some of the most serious diseases in human history.
Some of these diseases include pneumonia, gonorrhea and several
sexually transmitted diseases, meningitis, salmonella and e.
coli (common food-bourne illnesses) cholera, and most
importantly-The Bubonic Plague!! Bacteria, while important and
necessary for many biological processes and life, can also be
extremely harmful.

Medicine

Contrary to their effects of disease
I just listed above, bacteria are also used for many well-known
medications. An example of this is using bacteria to produce
streptokinase, a treatment for people suffering from blood
clots. Other examples include
Lactobacillus crispatus, which is used to
treat recurrent urinary tract infection and recurrent bacterial
vaginosis andLactococcus Lactis,
which has been tested to help patients with Crohn's disease. So
as you can see, bacteria can once again be helpful humans.

Bacteria are also found in other
common uses. Bacteria uses fermentation to turn milk into
yogurt, to produce aged cheeses, wine, beer, and more. Bacteria,
while not in the final products, are also used to create
chocolate and coffee! The bacteria degrade the pulp that covers
the beans, and makes the beans able to use.